Winston, Florida State hold off Oklahoma State 37-31 in opener

Tony Gutierrez / AP

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston leaps over guard Josue Matias as Oklahoma State safety Jordan Sterns, left, is unable to stop Winston from reaching the end zone for a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, in Arlington, Texas.

By Schuyler Dixon, Associated Press

Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014 | 9:38 p.m.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Jameis Winston threw for 370 yards and scored on a sparkling 28-yard run, and No. 1 Florida State held off Oklahoma State 37-31 to begin defending its national title.

Playing on the same field where this year's national champion will be crowned, Winston wasn't nearly as efficient as he was in the college debut that jump-started his Heisman Trophy season a year ago. But he made plays when it mattered.

The Cowboys were 19-point underdogs in the $1.2 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys but stayed close when J.W. Walsh matched Winston's scoring run with a 24-yard sprint and dive across the goal line to get within 27-24 early in the fourth quarter.

Winston's only passing touchdown was a 50-yarder to Rashad Greene, who had 203 yards receiving.

The scoring pass, which gave Florida State a 37-24 lead, was set up when P.J. Williams sent Walsh cart-wheeling to the turf on a hit that forced a fumble. Williams recovered the loose ball.

Walsh, who had 203 yards passing and led his team with 51 yards rushing, got the unranked and rebuilding Cowboys within six in the final 2 minutes on his second TD run, but they couldn't get the ball back.

The Seminoles were up three in the third quarter when Winston broke loose for the longest scoring run of his career. He hurdled offensive lineman Cameron Erving at the 10 and sidestepped a defender at the 5 before diving across the goal line as the ball was falling out of his arms.

The score was reviewed, and Oklahoma State players celebrated on the sideline when the giant video board showed the ball coming out near the goal line.

Seconds later referee Land Clark of the Pac-12 announced that the touchdown was upheld, drawing loud reactions from both sides of a crowd split pretty evenly between Florida State's dark red and Oklahoma State's bright orange.

Winston was 25 of 40 with two interceptions a year after throwing just two incompletions to beat Pitt in his debut. Cowboys defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah gave Winston the most trouble, getting two sacks and breaking up two passes.

Speedy Oklahoma State newcomer Tyreek Hill 106 combined yards rushing and receiving. He was a perfect decoy on a 55-yard scoring pass to David Glidden, who was uncovered and ran untouched after catching the ball at the 30 to make it 20-17.

Hill recovered from a botched kickoff return that stranded the Cowboys at their 3-yard line and led to Nate Andrews' 9-yard interception return for the game's first touchdown.

Oklahoma State also had trouble on punts, with a bad snap leading to the drive that ended in Winston's scoring run. Another poor snap in the fourth quarter gave Florida State good field position, and Robert Aguayo's third field goal put the Seminoles up by six.